The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-24
The Prominent Citizen.

It is the ambition of some men to
figured HI the role of prominent citizen.
They have an Unsuitable craving to see
their names in print. They attend zll
meetings in which aour more prominent
citizens take part, and nothing pleases
them more than to have their names
appear in the morning papers in the
long list of vice-presidents.
The prominent citizen signs requests
to theatrical manager or star to
accept o complimentary benefit, after
s~crutiniZing the list of names to make
sure that there is q preponderance OF
prominent citizens like himself, though
it has been remarked that he rarely
buys a ticket.
1t is for the accommo lation of the
prominent citizen that chairs are
placed on the stage on public oc-
casions, and we have seen him swell up
with the consciousness of his W i'm
portance as he marched proudly to his
seat, looking as though the whole
aeair was arranged with the sole view
to lifting him up for the admiration of
the multitude of ordinary citizens
seated below, who had no prominence
to speak of.
LII he maintains a dieailied COM
posture and discreet!y holds his tongue
he is safe, but sometimes the prominent
citizen-the kind we are writing about,
of course-is betrayed into the weak
ness of making a speech, and the shall.
lowness of his claims to any consider
alton above his fellows becomes pain
fully evident, lead ng simple people to
inquire how he got to be a prominent
citizen, anyhow. 1t is embarrassing to
have a question of that sort put in
motion and no prominent citizen who
feels MT all insecure in his position
should ever do anything to arouse it.
There is rarely a procession without
a carriage at the disposal Of the promi-
undignified for him to walk like com
moumortals besides that, in a crowd
ne might be mistaken for one of the
nIoss Insignificant in the procession,
andeno suspicion ,vs his greatness.
Seated In an open hack, with ID asming
badge pinned Oh his coat, strangers on
the sidewalk might. be led to inquire
who is that MANI" and he is in hard
luck il there isn't some one on hand to
reply: @That is Colonel Blank, IA OF
our most prominent citizens"
No one enjoys being interviewed by
the newspaper reporter like the proml'
nent citizen we are describing. He is
ready to give his opinion OF any and all
subjects, from a fracture in the side.
walk 10 a break in the Cabinet. If 6
series of interviews should appear IN g
newspaper headed, What u prom
nent citizens think of it," without his
name appearing it would make hin
sick, and he would probably call upor
the editor demanding an explanation
Instances have been known of his writ
ing out an interview with himself, Ut,
asked and putting it in the reporter
hands.
It is on an excursion TO some Other
city that the prominent citizen shines
in his greatest glory. To have his com
ing announced in the papers; to be re
ceived at the depot by a delegation o
prominent citizens, some of them a
transparent humbugs as himself; to lis
ten to speeches of welcome, and max
a speech himself, if SONS friend inc
enough to write it for him; to bsast
ed and treated to free drinks, ant
taken around in q hack to see tn
prisons, poor-houses, publA librarie
and breweries, with a lunch ant
speeches at each stopping-place; to b
stared at by barefoot boys; to have tn
band play "See, the Conquering Her
Comes to be introduced to people a
the man who has given SO mucl
prominence to his city, the introduce
not embarrassing himself or others b
entering into any details-aH these ar
what give the prominent citizen sucl
exquisite JOY. Then it is that he is i
his perfect element.-TeGas Siftings